Chapter 3, Iron Blue (03)

Jiang Ci nodded, and after Liang Jingxing started the vehicle, he turned and left

Life seems like a flour bag with holes on all sides; when one hole is plugged, another leaks. In daily life, money is required everywhere. For food and clothing, for water, electricity, and gas, and especially for the paint used in drawing. The last item is particularly difficult to save on, no matter how one tries.

Xu Jinhua chuckled softly, "I am indeed quitting; you see, I didn't even bring my cigarettes, otherwise, why would I ask you for some"

After waiting for a while, there was no more sound outside. Just as Jiang Ci was about to return to bed, the security door suddenly began to thud "dong dong dong" again

That day, Jiang Ci returned home from the bar and was awakened in the middle of the night by a series of knocks on the door. In this area, there were always people breaking in, so she cautiously got up, grabbed an iron rod from beside her bed, and walked to the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw nothing but darkness outside, unable to discern anything.

"You wait for yourself, I will go back first," Jiang Ci said.

Chen Juefei has indeed been much quieter lately, and the reason is simple: he has been spending his spare time paying attention to Jiang Ci, hoping to find some leverage against her. However, ever since she quit her job at the bar, Jiang Ci has been going straight home after school, either spending a few hours in the art studio or learning to paint with her teacher on weekends. Overall, it is the life that a normal high school student should have. Now, Chen Juefei finds it difficult to determine whether he feels disappointed or relieved.

Hey! Am I daring to trouble her? It's already a blessing that she let me off the hook! First, she splashed me all over at the bar, and then she...'' He suddenly recalled Jiang Ci's earlier words and, for some reason, did not want to expose her lie, so he omitted the matter about the phone, ``... In any case, don't be fooled by the fact that she's a woman; when she gets angry, she can do anything.

Xu Jinhui stayed in Chongcheng for a week, seizing the opportunity before her birthday to find an excuse to leave again

What type of work are you doing

Liang Jingxing held up the box and said, "This is not Marlboro, you won't be used to this brand." After a pause, he added, "Did you not say you wanted to quit smoking?"

I won't do it anymore. Every year, a bunch of people come to our house, and I don't even know if it's to celebrate a birthday or to build connections. It's meaningless. My mother just wants to push me to get married quickly, and I can't argue with her, so I might as well escape.

Uncle, after I left last time, you must have gone back to look for Jiang Ci, right

Jiang Ci pondered, "I fear that if I do not paint well, I will ruin your reputation"

Liang Jingxing turned right, coincidentally heading in the same direction as Jiang Ci. ... He saw her holding the straps of her backpack with both hands, her head slightly lowered, as she navigated past the fruit vendors' carts shouting on either side, the smoky barbecue stalls, and the drunken man who had clearly consumed too much alcohol, now bent over and retching by the roadside

Her heart was in her throat, "Who is it?"

Three days later, Xu Jinhui returned from the capital and had a meal at Liang Jingxing's home, where they chatted about recent developments

Liang Jingxing looked in that direction.

After Cao Bin left, Jiang Ci returned to the bedroom, counted the stack of banknotes that were slightly damp with sweat three times, and then tucked them under the pillow

Cao Bin pulled her hand over and stuffed the money into it, saying, "Silly girl, why make things difficult for yourself over money?" He wiped the oil and sweat from his face, "You are young and ambitious; in the future, when you encounter a situation like today, just make a few jokes and it will pass."

Chen Tongxu originally disapproved of his students flaunting themselves before they had completed their studies. He once became so enraged over Jiang Ci's auctioning of a painting that he puffed out his cheeks and glared, not speaking to her for an entire month. However, given the current circumstances, he thought that any assistance he could provide would be worthwhile. Upon learning that Jiang Ci's family was undergoing changes, he proactively offered to waive her tuition fees for the next year, but Jiang Ci naturally declined without hesitation.

Cao Bin nodded and said, "Alright, you have my phone number. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to call me." Before leaving, he reminded Jiang Ci again, "Make sure to lock the door and don't open it to just anyone."

After Jiang Mingyuan's passing, Jiang Ci originally did not intend to continue her studies in painting. However, she had no other special talents, and painting was her only skill. It would indeed be a pity to give up halfway. Moreover, her teacher, Chen Tongxu, was a renowned painter in Chongcheng, with very high standards for accepting disciples; over the course of thirty years, he had only taught four students.

Xu Jinhua smiled and said, "It is better to say it late than never."

Xu Jinhui nestled on the sofa, with the soft, milky white light from the standing lamp beside her casting a gentle glow on her facial contours. She reached out her hand towards Liang Jingxing and said, "Give me a cigarette"

As the end of the semester approaches, the temperature in Chongcheng rises increasingly, subtly exhibiting the power of a "furnace". Jiang Ci took a bus for forty minutes and was drenched in sweat from the heat

"We have met a few times." Before Chen Juefei could speak, Liang Jinghang countered him, "On the contrary, what about you? Why are you with her today? Are you causing her trouble again?"

Chen Juefei stretched lazily, no longer concerned about the matter, and changed the topic, "When will Aunt come back"

Xiawangdong Road belongs to the old city area, and the houses in this vicinity are at least twenty years old. At night, it is hard to tell, but during the day, it becomes quite apparent that the buildings and streets are worn and dilapidated, resembling a patch of scabs that urgently needs to be scraped off from the rapidly changing metropolis, and describing it as dirty and chaotic would be considered polite. This area is also a hotspot for crime, with petty theft being a common occurrence; discovering one or two decaying and foul-smelling corpses in the dark alleys is not particularly newsworthy.

Liang Jingxing's gaze fell on Jiang Ci, "Miss Jiang, you should get in the car as well. I will take you home first"

Xu Jinhua laughed and said: "You can be considered an artist as well. Do you need me to act as an advisor? If you ask me, just find someone to paint it directly."

"Where do you live, and how will you get back?" Chen Juefei blurted out, immediately wishing he could bite his own tongue. How could he take the initiative to care about this lunatic? It was simply as if he had encountered a ghost.

Jiang Ci smiled and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing, I still have money."

Jiang Ci was about to go get the electric fan, but Cao Bin waved his hand and said, "No need to trouble yourself, I will be leaving soon." He took out a stack of money from his pocket and said, "This is the one thousand yuan you lost. I told the boss that you are about to take the college entrance examination, and the boss expressed his understanding and even gave you a bonus of five hundred yuan."

Landscape paintings, ukiyo-e, erotic art... what is depicted is not important; it all depends on the skill of the artist

Liang Jingxing pressed his thin lips tightly together and fell silent.

Chen Tongxu smiled and said, "I believe you, you absolutely cannot fail."

Cao Bin had clearly come directly from the bar, his shirt soaked through with sweat. He was overweight and already sensitive to heat, standing in the stifling room, panting heavily.

What to draw

Hearing Cao Bin's voice, Jiang Ci removed the chains, pushed the fallen bolt back up, and unlocked the security door. "Cao Ge, what brings you here?" She turned on the living room light, stepped aside to let Cao Bin in, and carefully closed the door behind him.

If you could be a bit more considerate at school, I would certainly be kinder than anyone else

Liang Jingxing pondered for a moment and accepted her suggestion. He then asked, "Your birthday is next month; what are your plans?"

Liang Jingxing frowned, "What is she doing at the bar?"

The car stopped in front of the two people, and the window rolled down. Liang Jingxing leaned out, raised an eyebrow at Chen Juefei, and asked, "What did you just call me?"

Liang Jingxing came to his senses, turned his head to look ahead, and did not deny it, "I spoke a few words to her."

Jiang Ci clenched her fingers tightly, remaining silent

How is your sister's company's renovation going

Chen Juefei chuckled and opened the car door to jump in

Chen Juefei waved his hand, "Liang Jinghang! Over here!"

Liang Jingxing flicked the ash from his cigarette, "How can my humble temple accommodate such a great Buddha as you"

When her father passed away, Jiang Ci was still a year away from turning eighteen, and she was unable to take on many formal part-time jobs. Cao Bin, a fellow townsman of Jiang Ci, had received care from Jiang Mingyuan many years ago. They had long lost contact, but one day, while Jiang Ci was distributing flyers at the entrance of a supermarket, she was recognized by Cao Bin, who then took her to work as a waitress serving drinks at a bar

Liang Jingxing withdrew his gaze, "Alright, thank you for calling me. Please pay attention to your safety on your way back"

The term "aunt" as mentioned by Chen Juefei refers to Xu Jinhui. Xu Jinhui and Liang Jingxing are two years apart in age, having grown up together since childhood, and to outsiders, they seem to be a destined couple. However, the complexities of their relationship are known only to the parties involved.

Liang Jingxing pinched his cigarette and said, "There is still a corridor, but I don't know whose painting to hang. Please advise me on this."

Chen Juefei chuckled, "Sooner or later, she will be my aunt."

Chen Juefei appeared more disappointed than anyone else, "Uncle, you will be thirty next year. How long do you plan to delay your marriage with Aunt?"

It is fine if you no longer wish to work; you are a serious student, and engaging in this will tarnish your reputation. In the future, if you find yourself in need of money, feel free to speak to Brother Cao. I will support you throughout your senior year of high school, and that will not be a problem.

He often feels that Jiang Ci resembles the young version of himself, possessing an unparalleled arrogance and a stubborn temper that refuses to yield in the slightest. In the past, when the family was affluent, such indulgence could be overlooked; however, now that they have fallen on hard times, this sense of superiority has transformed into hostility, making her appear as a screw that cannot fit into the world. If she were to encounter some people she finds displeasing, she would inevitably face repercussions.

Chen Juefei curled her lips and said, "Working. Last time you accused me of slander, if she truly valued her self-respect and dignity, that would be one thing..."

Liang Jingxing paused and said, "She is the daughter of an old friend."

You can escape the first day of the month, but you cannot escape the fifteenth; you will eventually have to tell her.

Jiang Ci lowered his head to look at the thick stack of pink banknotes, but did not reach out.

Chen Juefei immediately became interested, "Do you know her?"

Aci, it is me

Fortunately, with the timely assistance of 100,000 yuan from Liang Jingxing, she gritted her teeth and persevered

Once again, on a weekend, Jiang Ci went to Chen Tongxu's studio as usual

Liang Jingxing smiled and said, "Do you think I am getting old?"

Xu Jinhui learned that his company was about to open and jokingly said, "How about I work here? Just provide meals, and I don't need a high salary."

Uncle, your words are truly interesting. In such places, how can one work without being taken advantage of?

"Not far, walk back." As soon as the words were spoken, the headlights in front flashed.

There is a saying that goes well, "The stronger the extreme, the greater the humiliation; deep affection does not last long"

Chen Tongxu poured her a glass of ice water. Without mentioning today's lessons, he said, "Aci, I would like to ask you for a favor. You still have a week before summer vacation, right? A friend of mine has entrusted me to paint two walls for him. This task is quite tedious and time-consuming, so I would like you to do it for me." He paused for a moment, "The compensation offered by the other party is quite generous," he indicated a figure, "this price per square meter."

Chen Juefei quickly shook his head, "You are not that old, yet you carry an air of age. When you put on a stern face to lecture others, you are even more intimidating than my old man. Honest advice is often hard to hear; let me tell you this: a kinder expression will attract women more favorably"

Jiang Ci shook his head, extending his hand to point towards a certain place in the darkness on the right, "I live there, very close."

Call her aunt

What do you and she have to talk about